Captain Vincent Curry
Everyone Goes Home® Pennsylvania State Advocate

Over the years, as a fire service instructor, I have met a lot of fellow firefighters. Recently I realized the stories from rookies and veterans were the same. The rookies said "we don't fit in" and the veterans said, "rookies just don't get it." As a fire service instructor and as a company officer it is my responsibility to teach rookies and veterans on-the-job safety.

Each year we lose brothers and sisters in the line of duty - some heroic and some because of lack of training, lack of safety and lack of personal responsibility. Traditionally, rookies are janitors, cooks, dishwashers, etc. We all paid our dues. I remember when I was a rookie that I did whatever needed to be done around the station. My captains and veterans taught me to be safe and what my job was as a firefighter. It seems that we are missing those kinds of mentors within our firehouses today. Veterans, instead of pushing the younger generation aside, let's step up to the plate and teach them the job like your mentors did. The fire service is changing and to keep up with the changes we need firehouse mentors. Make sure rookies do the job safely and understand what it is to be a firefighter. Remember, these young firefighters are the future and I know I want the young firefighters at my house to be able to do the job safely and make the right choices when they are officers and veterans.

Rookies, you are the future of the fire service. You say you feel like you don't fit in because veterans push you aside. The next time the veterans at your house push you aside, challenge them to be mentors. Ask them how to use a piece of equipment or ask them what does firefighter safety mean to them. Remember, the only dumb question is the one not asked so teach them to be mentors so that they can teach you to be firefighters. I don't buy the saying that "we don't fit in." You became a firefighter for a reason and we all know it's not because of the money. This job is dangerous enough to be well-trained and safe but, it's worse when you're not trained correctly and safety is lacking. Rookies and veterans, it is your personal responsibility to learn and teach each other what it truly is to be a firefighter. The tools are there: 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives, Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Resource Kits, and much more. Use them to teach and learn to be firefighters and mentors. Our main goal as firefighters - veterans, and rookies is to be well trained, do the right thing, make safety a priority, and most importantly, insure that Everyone Goes Home.